Party fever: Another political party is gathering signatures to get on Nebraska’s ballot

LINCOLN — A party that wants to put Americans and Nebraskans first is collecting signatures to secure a ballot line ahead of the November election.

The “America First Party” sponsor is Omaha Tribe Attorney General John Cartier, according to paperwork received Wednesday by the Secretary of State’s office.

The America First Party’s stated purpose is to “provide voters with a political organization committed to putting Americans and Nebraskans ahead of all others by cracking down on out-of-control government spending and wasteful foreign aid, getting tough on illegal immigrants, standing up against abortion, and rigidly defending the Second Amendment.”

In a statement, Cartier said, “People are angry and tired of the bulls—. The America First Party is here to give voters options.”

Cartier, currently registered nonpartisan, is listed as treasurer of the campaign for the Legal Marijuana NOW Party’s U.S. Senate nominee Mike Marvin, according to the FEC.

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A similar effort is underway to establish a Nebraska Working People Party in the state. Both efforts have a July 15 deadline to collect at least “one percent of the total votes cast for Governor at the most recent general election for such office,” according to state law. That would be about 6,726 signatures. 

If the groups are successful, the new parties can place their candidates on the general election ballot, per Nebraska state law.

The Nebraska Liberal Party also has been seeking official party status in the state since 2024, according to paperwork filed with the Secretary of State’s Office. There are four official parties in Nebraska: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Legal Marijuana NOW.  

Burbank wins Nebraska Dem U.S. Senate primary, likely giving Osborn a clearer shot against Ricketts

This election cycle has seen multiple allegations that candidates are playing “spoiler” in Nebraska by running to clear the field for other candidates or trying to split the vote.  

The Nebraska Republican Party Chair Mary Jane Truemper released a statement, saying “rigging primaries wasn’t enough for Jane Kleeb.”

“Now her Nebraska Democrats are behind a fraudulent ‘America First Party,’ filed by progressive lawyer and Dan Osborn associate John Cartier, designed to trick conservative voters into splitting their vote,” Truemper said 

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Kleeb said the party had no idea the “America First Party” was being formed. 

“We are laser-focused on the hundreds of Democrats running across the state up and down the ballot. No matter how many parties get formed with billionaire backers, we are organizing and mobilizing a coalition of voters to end the corrupt one-party Republican rule in Nebraska,” Kleeb said.

Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts is being challenged by registered nonpartisan Dan Osborn. The Democratic Party’s nominee, Cindy Burbank, won the primary in May, but she is expected to drop out of the race. In the run-up to the primary, she posted on her campaign website that she would drop out if she won to give Osborn a cleaner shot against Ricketts. 

The general election is Nov 3.